Posts tagged ‘God’s Truth’

Everybody knows that there are people in this world whose word simply cannot be trusted. They might have attained the status of top leadership in the country, they might be very wealthy, they might be considered very intellectual, they might be spiritual leaders — whatever the case may be, it is noted, often by their deeds, that their word should not be trusted. {The Sum Of Thy Word Is Truth}

Everyday we are confronted with a lot of words, news-gatherings etc.. these days it is even fashion to have several people trying to manipulate others and spreading false accusations or what a certain American person would call real news whilst naming the other and real facts ‘fake news’.

Some people use their words to gain political power over others; some use words to illegally gain wealth; some use words to intimidate others with their supposed “knowledge”; and there are false spiritual leaders, who desire to rule over others spiritually with their words. {The Sum Of Thy Word Is Truth}

These days many people, certainly here in West Europe and in the Middle East can feel the damage which is caused by those who trap in the mousetrap of some of those false teachers who do more damage to the faith they are so called defending, than doing good to it are creating reasons for non-believers to come to believe in Allah/God or to get them converted to real Islam.

With the Internet, TV, radio, books, newspapers, etc., each belief system is trying to spread what they claim is the absolute truth. What in the world should we believe — if anything? {The Sum Of Thy Word Is Truth}

asks the American mother, adding

Most belief systems can almost be seen as “agreeing” quite a bit on what is “good” behavior. So, does it matter which one we “prefer”? Many will say it does not matter what you believe, just so long as you are sincere and “try” to be good. {The Sum Of Thy Word Is Truth}

Two symbols among more than 40 that are authorized for use in National Cemeteries on headstones and markers, symboling religious or belief systems of the deceased. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Several Christians will say that all people are saved now and that we do not have to do any works any more (And looking at some of this mother her writings we get the impression she thinks too.). They are either mislead by their leaders or just are not very well accustomed with the Words of the Bible (The Words of God). Those not knowing their Holy Scriptures, be it the Hebrew Bible, the Messianic Scriptures or Greek Bible or the Quran are an easy pray for false teachers and for faith groups which prefer their own dogmatic teachings instead of keeping to the Set-apart or Holy Scriptures.

The mother who wants her web site to just glorify God and the salvation He offers to all of us, does not want to debate anyone’s doctrinal beliefs or holding discussions on various subjects. Her web site just wants to give some quiet time to consider various verses in God’s word.

Writing

There are so many different belief systems in this world. It should be obvious that it matters which is the right way to go. Out of all beliefs, only the Bible has shown itself to be true through all the fulfilled prophecies written there. {The Narrow Gate}

she must come to recognise that we can not avoid talking about the doctrinal issues because

even within those claiming to accept the Bible’s teachings, not all will reach their goal of heaven. How can that be? {The Narrow Gate}

She too must know that not all those denominations are teaching “teachings from God Almighty” and has to see that even in Christian denominations there are those who totally ignore that history proves they are presenting not only teachings from sinful men but that many of them even do not live according to what they preach.

Many people are afraid of their neighbours and afraid of the traditions of the world. They want to “fit in with the rest of the crowd”.

They’re afraid of what their neighbours, family, and friends might say about them. And, you know what? Everybody’s afraid. We all want to “fit in”. {Far Away Hearts}

It is fine to see that the mother has seen what happened in history and that

Going back to Jesus’ statement in Matthew 15:7-9, we need to realize that the church from 1500 years, or more, ago, accepted these traditions of men, only because they wanted more heathens to join the church. The church leaders were so intent upon adding numbers to their church enrollment, that they condoned heathen influences, in order to draw heathens into the church.

Those ungodly decisions have influenced us to this day. So, we don’t have to feel alone in our dilemma of dealing with the fears and superstitions we influence our children with. This sort of stuff has been going on since the beginning of time.

That is why Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12,

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” {Far Away Hearts}

Looking at the world today, not much has changed between people. They still have many arguments with each other. They still fight against each other. But concerning faith and doing the works of faith we do see that these days there is less and less interest in the Divine Creator.

It is a pity the mother herself is taken into the trap of those who did agree with the Roman emperor to make Jeshua into the equal or similar person as Zeus, changing his name to Issou (Iessous/Ishi/Jesus) or ‘Hail Zeus” and making him into a three-godhead. She thinks Jesus to be God, though she says herself:

That very “narrow gate” “that leads to life” is a simple faith in Jesus only as our Lord and Savior. We can’t add anything to that — or take anything away from that. {The Narrow Gate}

That belief in Christ is an essential part of salvation, too many forget. Lots of Christians do not come to see how important that is. Lots of Christians also do not recognise the grand effort Jesus had to do to bring salvation to mankind. They ignore that Jesus did not do his will but the Will of God. (Namely when Jesus is God, like they say, Jesus would always have done his own will.) They also seem to forget that Jesus gave his life and really died. Man can do God nothing and God can not die, but Jesus really did.

It is by ignoring the biblical facts that people exclude themselves from those who Jesus meant to be followers of him and to be the real lovers of God and not of the world.

Strangely enough the mother herself acknowledges

Jesus is pointedly showing us that it is only faith in Him “that leads to life”. If we add or subtract from that simple truth, we are widening the “gate” — leading ourselves and others “to destruction”. When describing the “narrow”, “small” gate, Jesus realized that there would only be “few who find it”.

We always should remember for what sort of public the Bible in our hands is translated. Was its purpose to reach teenage kids and as such has avoided too difficult words, or was it more for adolescents, still using a restricted vocabulary or was it for educated people who can bear some more difficult words?

A study Bible. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We also do have to be careful when we speak about a Bible translation that we do not take the additional notes as being part of the real Bible. Too many people forget that it are human words which are added to give the readers some guidance, but mostly are written from denominational points of view. In this way the so called “Thematic Bibles” and the “Study Bibles” are the most dangerous. They are the easiest sources to have the mind site tracked to human dogma‘s.

Ultimately, we believe the Bible to be inerrant because it comes from God Himself. It is unthinkable to contemplate that God might be capable of error. Therefore, His Word cannot possibly contain errors. This is our faith—we can trust the Bible because we can trust God. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xii). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}

For those who say only the King James Version is the only right and true Bible, they should wonder if God then in the previous and following years was not able to protect His Own Word. Do they not trust God that He could take care that those who wanted to translate His word and spent so many hours, days, months and some even years, to make a worthy translation, would make a reasonable good translation which could bring God His Word to the general public?

We should all remember that

God, who is Himself truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God’s witness to Himself. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xv). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}

and be aware that though those 66 books may have been written down by different people at different times in the previous history, but have always been God’s Truth and not their own thinking.

Holy Scripture, being God’s own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xv). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}

It is that Divine Authority Who still overlooks the work done for Him. even when there may by so many different translators from different denominations, they all when working with the Word of God trying to bring it in the language of their people, may come under the Guidance of the Most High God.

The Holy Spirit, Scripture’s divine author, both authenticates it to us by His inward witness and opens our minds to understand its meaning. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xv). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}

In the previous chapters we have seen how even of the King James version many totally different versions were created and that several people who say “Only the King James version” may be using themselves a totally different version than the AuthorisedKing James Version of 1611 and each been talking about a different Bible translation.

We also could see that the many versions in many languages all may equip the reader to reach deep into God’s Word and if they are really willing to put all human dogma’s aside that the translation they may use still shall be able to to unlock the riches and majesty of God His Word, and ignite a passion to mentor others in their life to do the same.

If it are published bibles for a specific group, we should carefully check if all the bible books are represented with the full texts. We also have seen that the saying of Stanton who concluded that

‘the Bible in its teachings degrades Women from Genesis to Revelation‘

is not correct and that God even allowed women, like herself, to translate His word. The famous 19th Century feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a “Revising Committee” found much to admire in the Bible, particularly some of the Old Testament women. While many of her views are still controversial, time and advances in womens’ rights have lessened some of the shock value of her book The Woman’s Bible. Stanton doesn’t go as far as some modern feminist theologians and proclaim ‘God is a woman’, but there are several contributions which discuss the gender of the ‘Elohim’ and the female aspects of the Kabbalah.

For those who want to put women on a higher place or give them a nice attention, there may be several Women’s Bibles to give to that special woman in their life, so that she’ll find inspiration with a Bible made just for her. From women’s study Bibles, to Bibles made just for moms, available in popular translations from NIV, NKJV, to ESV, such Bibles for women will help her on her faith journey. So people may find the wisdom, grace, encouragement and guidance that Women’s Bibles can deliver.

Whatever Bible translation you might like to use always remember what the essence of that Book should be. Always remember that the goal of a Bible study should be . . . to study the Bible. Always be careful not to be sidetracked by so many beautiful pictures or lovely stories which are told next to the real Bible text.

Always remember that Bible study is not a social club, a counselling session, or a place to meet “felt needs.” Fellowship, counselling, and meeting needs are often the choice fruits of a good Bible study as women get to know one another and are shaped by the Word. But these fruits should never overcome the goal of studying the Scriptures together. Also Bible Journaling may be great fun for lots of females. Though we notice that lots of girls and ladies let themselves be carried away by their drawings and spent more time to their ‘journaling’ instead of ‘studying’ the Word of God.

Therefore we do ask every person who wants to go for a thematic bible or a special group Study bible to concentrate on the Word of God Itself and to remember always that the additional notes are those of human beings and not part of the Bible itself.

If you keep your goal in mind, you will keep focused on the Scriptures. Tangents will threaten to take you down a rabbit trail, but you will guide them back to the solid ground of the Word. Wrong answers will be offered, but you will arrive at the truth. Real needs will arise, and you’ll be surprised how they are met with Scripture. At the end of an hour or two women will be built up and equipped with the Word. {7 Mistakes We Make in Women’s Bible Study}

Page from the Dutsch Professorenbijbel (“Professors Bible”), a translation of the Latin Vulgate of the Books of the New Testament. This part, covering the Pentateuch, was published in 1904. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let us not forget that it was the KJV translators themselves who stated in their original pref­ace that the very purpose of their translation was to provide God’s Word in a readable and understandable fashion. They too looked at previous versions and recognized and accepted the translation work that had been done before them, not downgrading it. times and language have evolved, so we should recognise that the 17th century language is not so comprehensible for the contemporary public and that even certain phrases where not so correctly translated because there was not yet such a thorough or good insight in the original language as we have to day.

The goal of translating any ancient text ought to be to make the original sense of that text available to a modern reader. It really doesn’t matter whether that ancient text was written by Aristophanes or the Apostle Paul. {(Lost in) Permanent Translation}

It is more important to have the Bible presented in a language people of the day can understand easily, without doing shortage to the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek writing.

We must be aware of choices made by publishers, like trying to translate as close as possible to the original language (NWT, Ref.B., Aramaic-English B., The Scriptures, HalleluYah B, NASB) putting meaning ahead of clarity (NAS, Ryries, NASB, ESV, and NRSV), putting clarity ahead of meaning sometime translating very freely (CEV, AMP, Liv.B, the Book, MSG, NLT and GNB/GNT) and those aiming at the optimal amount of meaning and clarity simultaneously (Naz.Com., NKVJ, NAB, NET, HCSB, CEB and NIV).

This are all Bible translations which may come on the bookshelf, but the most important thing is that they are read, not only once, but regularly.

In conclusion, if you are a Christian who uses the King James Version, if you understand what you read and are comfortable with it, then by all means, continue to use it. The KJV, despite the kinds of minor problems which occur in any translation, is still a fine Bible.
What if you are a Christian who uses a modern translation? You also should feel free to continue reading a good modern translation.
Don’t be deterred or intimidated by those who would tell you that you do not have the Word of God in your hands. {The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 6}

Photograph by Tsafrir Abayov for the Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon On The Logos Academic Blog Craig A. Evans writes about some impressive advances in biblical archaeology The last quarter-century has seen some impressive advances in biblical archaeology, especially relating to the time that we call the First Temple period (roughly 1000–600 BCE) and the time […]

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The IBSA or cooperative association of Bible Student congregations worldwide, all united by the common beliefs taught in Brother Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures series